Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-08-04

Janet from her work to know what she
was at. ond what she intended doing
next. Countless orders issued from her
chamber.
These idiosyncracies added greatly to
Janet's fatigue, as she toiled through
the day, and she actually sobbed with
weariness one night, when she CON-
menced to bring in the wood.
She was standing in the woodshed.-
Suddenly she heard step on the gray.
el of the path in the yard.
1t was Mr.. Dent. He had not gone.
lie came swinging along in his shirt
sleeves, his linen duster oyer his arm.
How rich, and prosperous, and hap
py he was!
Janet did not desire to dispossess Mr.
Dent of good fortune. but she thought
it hard that q little Of the brightness Of
life could not be hers.
But when Mr.. Dent come opposite
the shed door. the happy light died out
Of his pleasant gray eyes.
Well it might. Janet did not dream
what pitiful sight her poor little tear
stained face was.
Mr.. Dent spoke cheerily.
"All work and no play makes Jill 4
dull girl, doesn't it % he said, taking
the basket from her hand and in a mo-
mcnt carrying it,loaded, into the kitclf-
en-. "You have too much 70 do ; the
spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. y
When Mr.. Dent had filled the big
wood boxes SO the covers would hardly
shut down, he said
MY arms are strong, and they shall
be at your service while | stay here,
though it will be only day or two
longer. shall be quite at leisure to-
morrow or next dav. and YOU can call
on me whenever you like.
Much as Janet was pleased, she new
er would have dreamed of taking the
gentleman at his word but the next
morning proved rainy one, so that
Mr.. Dents chamber, being cold and no
fire lighted in the sitting-room he came
into the kitchen with his book and en-
seconded himself in great rocking
chair beside the stove.
That was the plaasantest day of ia
nets life. Mr.. Dent told her such fun.
nv stories, and read 80 beautifully from
his great book and then, he filled the
water-palls, and kept the fire burning
and Jumped up to lift the heavy tubs
for her, and sat down again to keep the
bread from burning, while she carried
Mrs. Titus dinner up.
And while he was doing all this, Mr..
Dent was thinking what a dear little
patient thing she was. and how prettlly
the nut brown hair curled over her
head.
At night he filled the boxes with
wood, strained the milk, wound the
high clock and turned the cats out and
all day he had Jest for everythlng,and
IA genial glace and kind tone, that
turned darkness into light for Janet.
She sighed with happiness as went to
sleep, though Mrs. Titus goodnight
word had been that she was lazy,
good for nothing thing" and that she
should be downstairs tomorrow to see
what Janet was up to-
The northeast storm continued. and
Mr.. Dent was sitting by the fire again.
when Mrs. Titus limped into the kltch-
en- with n cane.
Now, Mr.. Dent had Just been chop
ping m,nce-meat, with Mrs. Titus gins
ham apron and ruhed cap on, and had
barely cast them aside. when the lady
opened the door and caught Janet
laughing.
She might we'll have looked amazed
for she never had seen Janet laughing
before. Now. why she probably could
not have told, but Mrs. Titus WAS very
much offended.
She waited until dinner was served
and Janet had gone into the well-room
to cool the pudding, than she began
bitter TRADE:
Pretty business this is, gigsling and
fooing your time away, and'everythlng
to do. Mr.. Dents been reading poe
try to you, has he? How much more
churning can you do when you listen
to poetry? Have you baked that fruit
cake? Well, know it's made wrong
Did you shut that sottin hen Oft the
nest? don't believe it. What's Dent
in the kitchen for, anyway?'
For the fire, ma'am. The chambers
are so chilly. And | had so much to DO
and he was kind and his arms were
u.x, f,l+arej Moor little Janet.